(Point) Missers From The 152nd Open
A rough week for some including the (reportedly) the Claret Jug, LIV golfers, launch monitor players and NBC.
There were Champions, Cutmakers and, finally, (Point) Missers who had less than ideal weeks in Troon.
(Point) Missers
Bryson. Did the devotion to producing YouTube content between majors prevent proper prep for The Open? Perhaps. Or maybe bomb-and-gouge won’t ever work on a links. Either way, the U.S. Open champion arrived in Troon woefully unprepared to turn off his Flightscope. His vaunted team seems to have given poor advice on how to deal with Troon and DeChambeau was also embroiled in a weird spat with his old coach over chump change. But blaming his lack of exposure to the southerly wind direction, rain, his equipment and cooler temps was downright weird for a player and team with all the answers. At least his tech talk with instructor Dana Dahlquist was great during Sky’s range coverage. Too bad almost none of it applies to getting around a lively links. Overall, the missed cut made for an odd ending to an otherwise superb and entertaining major season.
LIV Golfers. If not for Jon Rahm’s final round 68 and a few moments from Dean Burmester, Saudi Arabia’s contingent appears to have lost their edge playing in 54-hole exhibitions on mediocre courses as DJ’s spin. After a solid Masters showing by the group—and DeChambeau’s season notwithstanding—most of the LIV players seem unprepared for majors thanks to LIV’s year-to-year scheduling issues. So much so that Rahm is campaigning to play a links into the Open next year. Now there’s an idea! Why didn’t we think of that? Cam Smith, the 2022 Open Champion, missed the cut with ease and has all but disappeared from the biggest stages. Even Brooks Koepka, last year’s PGA Champion who rises up in majors, had a dreadful year despite not having any apparent health issues (but he is a new father). Dustin Johnson showed a few signs of life at Troon, while Tyrrell Hatton raged on. Abraham Ancer hasn’t lost his passion for the game and made the weekend. But huge money, weak venues, and scheduling of Valderrama as a links tune-up appears to have softened H.E.’s loyal troopers.
Viktor Hovland. The 2023 mastery appears long gone. It’s bizarre seeing him finish +10 after two rounds in a championship where he should thrive. At least, until you watch him work. Someone needs to show Hovland what he looks like playing the game these days. He might see the weird body language, frenetic energy and overall basketcase approach. What happened?
Former Champion Golfers Of The Year. Many former Claret Jug hoisters registered forgettable appearances at Troon. Defending Champion Brian Harman reportedly, a source tell The Quad, returned the Claret Jug in the least-satisfactory condition anyone could recall. The prized possession apparently required repair work, while leftover tequila had to be poured out in advance of Sunday’s handoff. Henrik Stenson and Phil Mickelson practically tip-toed in to the week. The LIV has-beens returned to the site of their epic 2016 duel. Given how their Troon performance was modern golf classic, it was sad to see their heroics going so lightly recalled. Tiger Woods put in the effort by playing plenty of practice round holes but seemed flat emotionally and did not bring his usual support team led by Rob McNamara. Woods was unable to take advantage of what appears to be much better physical health. Perhaps he’s spending too much time in meetings, though his open amazement at the stamina various investors and execs have for endless meetings was funny (not intentionally). Ernie Els and John Daly could not finish 36 holes. And Rory McIlroy was dreaming about his vacation 22 holes into the championship. But at least he owned his inability to deal with the wind. “I didn't adapt well at all to that left-to-right wind yesterday on the back nine, and then this afternoon going out in that gusty wind on the front, as I said, it got the better of me, and I felt pretty uncomfortable over a few shots.”
Tiger Haters. And not just Monty. All of the cranks lamenting 48-year-old Tiger Woods’ inability to play up to his all-time great standards have either (A) forgotten that Arnie, Jack and other legends turned up at majors well past their prime, or, (B) they don’t seem to like a legend who has earned the right to use exemptions as he pleases. Note: golfers never really retire. The great ones all have said they were done only to get bored and think they have one more magical week in the tank. If there is one major where Woods is likely to contend again it’s The Open. So pipe down haters. He’s exempt for 11 more of these.
BOSS. Unlike the American tournament scam of saddling volunteers with pricey uni’s, the esteemed brand supplies clothing for Open volunteers and gets priority placement in the Shop. But this year the uniforms came in the brand’s signature “camel” brown—referred to by several volunteers as a shade of diarrhea—and were made even uglier when the outfits became a billboard. With hats labeled BOSS instead of a Claret Jug logo, the R&A turned the people who make the tournament go into involuntary walking ads. Many were not amused and pledged to toss the hats after their work was done Sunday night. One pithy volunteer told me to ask the R&A if BOSS stands for British Open S.S. 😬
Merch. As synthetic and overpriced as the stuff was, by Sunday the Shop appeared to be down to a bunch of “SEVE” large letter visors (which I liked!), some scoreboard yellow caps, Xtra smalls and larges, and plenty of anything by BOSS. Economic times must be good and the R&A coffers were filled in spite of high prices and blah quality.